Our Sponsors

First Team Beaten by Carshalton in FA Trophy after Dream Start

FA Trophy 2nd Round Qualifying

Carshalton Athletic 3 - 1 Cirencester Town

Cirencester Town crashed out of their second cup competition in four days after being outplayed by their Ryman Premier Division opponents Carshalton Athletic.

The afternoon started all so well with only 45 seconds on the clock, Jack Harris swung a free kick in from near the halfway line which was headed out only as far as debutant striker Ben Hunt who with his very first touch hit a sublime volley which flew into the net via the underside of the bar.

Unfortunately from that moment on it was all Carshalton and only five minutes later Cirencester switched off allowing Carshalton to take a short corner where they worked it to the edge of the box and Laurent Hamici crashed a shot at goal which from close range hit Jamie Reid on the hand. The referee pointed to the spot which was harsh enough as Reid could do nothing about it but to make matters worse the referee also then booked Reid much to everyone's amazement for "deliberate handball" he later informed the player. Dean Lodge despatched the penalty comfortably to make it 1-1.

It was Dean Lodge who went on to torment Town all afternoon with some great dribbling skills, trickery and his ability to supply good crosses for others. He created a number of chances and after one brilliant run and cross Laurent Hamici rose well to plant a downward header which Kevin Sawyer did brilliantly to parry wide at the foot of the post.

After an early booking for Nathan Davies for an over zealous tackle Carshalton went 2-1 up when substitute Anthony Joseph went on a good run down the right and pulled the ball back to Hamici who had peeled off his markers and his shot flew past an unsighted Sawyer to send the Carshalton fans into raptures.

Hamici then nearly made it three when his wicked shot from the edge of the box was beaten away by the overworked Kevin Sawyer in the Town goal. Dean Lodge continued to weave his magic spell and with one particularly good run he cut inside and fired in a left footed shot that saw Sawyer go full stretch to his right to fingertip round the post for a corner.

On 62 minutes from a scrambled corner Sawyer managed to just keep out a close range effort which was then duly hacked clear but the pressure told on the 70th minute when a ball in from the left landed at Paul Vines' feet at the back post and he duly despatched to make it 3-1 and effectively seal the game.

On 78 minutes Vines nearly added to his and the team's tally when again from a scrambled corner his shot it the outside of the post much to the relief of the Town faithful.

Young sub Mark Ford then had Town's only second shot of the afternoon when his left footed effort sailed high over the bar in the 81st minute.

Things got worse for Town with only four minutes left when a poorly timed header by debutant Charlie Comyn-Platt put the Carshalton striker through and Damien Crudup, who had not long come on, hauled the striker back and was duly sent off by the referee leaving Town with only ten men for the remaining few minutes.

The final whistle went on a miserable afternoon and leaves Town with only Tuesday evening's GFA Senior Challenge Trophy game with Yate Town as their last chance of any silverware and a battle to get out of the relegation zone ahead.